Measuring habituation to stimuli: The Italian version of the Sensory Habituation Questionnaire
2024

Validation of the Italian Sensory Habituation Questionnaire

Sample size: 262 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Tarantino Vincenza, Passerello Noemi, Ben-Sasson Ayelet, Podoly Tamar Y., Santostefano Alessia, Oliveri Massimiliano, Mandolesi Laura, Turriziani Patrizia

Primary Institution: Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

Hypothesis

The study aims to validate an Italian version of the Sensory Habituation Questionnaire (S-Hab-Q) and explore its relationship with sensory sensitivity and autistic traits.

Conclusion

The Italian version of the S-Hab-Q is a valid tool for measuring sensory habituation to stimuli in everyday environments.

Supporting Evidence

  • The S-Hab-Q showed high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of .83.
  • The S-Hab-Q total score positively correlated with the SPQ total score (ρ(262) = .32, p < .001).
  • A significant correlation was found between the S-Hab-Q and AQ total scores (ρ(262) = .328, p < .001).
  • The two-factor model of the S-Hab-Q demonstrated a good fit to the data (CFI = .958, TLI = .954, RMSEA = .034).
  • Females reported higher S-Hab-Q scores than males, indicating slower habituation.

Takeaway

This study created a questionnaire to help people understand how quickly they get used to different sensory experiences, which can help improve their daily lives.

Methodology

Participants completed the S-Hab-Q, Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ), and Autism Quotient (AQ) questionnaires, and data were analyzed for internal consistency and correlations.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the self-report nature of the questionnaires and the exclusion of participants with sensory impairments or psychiatric disorders.

Limitations

The study relied on self-reported measures and may not generalize across different populations or cultures.

Participant Demographics

Participants were aged 18 to 67 years, with a mean age of 32.7 years, and included 58.8% females.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI [.79, .87]

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0309030

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication